One after the other the protesting masses of good sense rolled up.
He picked his way out of the avenue with a reasoning gesticulation of the body; a chicken-like motion of sensible fastidious defence in front of buffonic violence. At the gate he exploded in harsh laughter, looking bravely and railingly out into the world through his glasses. Then he walked slowly away in his short jacket, his buttocks moving methodically just beneath its rim1.
“Ha ha! Ha ha! Kreisleriana!” he shouted without his voice.
The indignant plebs of his glorious organism rioted around his mind.
“Ha ha! Ha ha! Sacré farceur, where are you leading us?” They were vociferous2. “You have kept us fooling in this neighbourhood so long, and now you are pledging us to your idiotic3 fancy for ever. Ha ha! Ha ha!”
“Be reasonable! What are you doing, master of our destiny? We shall all be lost!”
A faction4 clamoured, “Anastasya!” Certain sense-sections attacked him in vulnerable spots with Anastasya’s voluptuous5 banner unfurled and fragrant6.
He buffeted7 his way along, as though spray were dashing in his face, watchful8 behind his glasses. He met his thoughts with a contemptuous stiff veteran smile. This capricious and dangerous master had an offensive stylistic coolness, similar to Wellington breakfasting at Salamanca while Marmont hurried exultingly9 into traps; although he resembled his great countryman in no other way.
Those thoughts that bellowed10, “Anastasya!” however, worried him. He answered them.
“Anastasya! Anastasya!! I know all about that! What do you take me for? You will still have your Anastasya. I am not selling myself or you. A man such as I does not dispose of himself in a case like this. I am going to marry Bertha Lunken. Well? Shall I be any the less my own master for that reason? If I want to sleep with[310] Anastasya, I shall do so. Why marry Bertha Lunken, and shoulder all that semi-contagious muck? Because it is only the points or movements in life that matter, and one of those points indicates that course, namely, to keep faith with another person: and secretly to show my contempt for the world by choosing the premier12 venu to be my body-servant and body-companion; my contempt for my body too.”
He sought to overcome his reasons by appeals to their corporate13 vanity.
He had experienced rather a wrench14 as regards Anastasya. The swanky sex with which he had ornamented15 his future could not be dismissed so easily. He was astonished that it could be dismissed at all, and asked himself the reason. He sacrificed Anastasya with a comparatively light heart. It was chiefly his vanity that gave trouble.
He came back to his earlier conclusions. Such successful people as Anastasya and himself were by themselves. It was as impossible to combine or wed11 them as to compound the genius of two great artists. If you mixed together into one whole Gainsborough and Goya you would get nothing, for they would be mutually destructive. Beyond a certain point of perfection individual instinct was its own law. A subtle lyrical wail16 would gain nothing from living with a rough and powerful talent, or vice17 versa. Success is always personal. Co-operation, group-genius was, he was convinced, a slavish pretence18 and absurdity19. Only when the group was so big that it became a person again, as with a nation, did you get mob-talent or popular art. This big, diffuse20, vehement21 giant was the next best thing to the great artist; Patchin Tcherana coming just below.
He saw this quite clearly. He and Anastasya were a superfluity, and destructive conflict. It was like a mother being given a child to bear the same size already as herself. Anastasya was in every way too big; she was too big physically22. But did not sex change the whole question, when it was a woman? He did not agree to this. Woman and the sexual[311] sphere seemed to him to be an average from which everything came: from it everything rose, or attempted to rise. There was no mysterious opposition23 extending up into Heaven, and dividing Heavenly Beings into Gods and Goddesses. There was only one God, and he was a man. A woman was a lower form of life. Everything was female to begin with. A jellyish diffuseness24 spread itself and gaped25 on the beds and in the bas-fonds of everything. Above a certain level of life sex disappeared, just as in highly organized sensualism sex vanishes. And, on the other hand, everything beneath that line was female. Bard26, Simpson, Mackenzie, Townsend, Annandale—he enumerated27 acquaintances evidently below the absolute line, and who displayed a lack of energy, permanently28 mesmeric state, and almost purely29 emotional reactions. He knew that everything on the superior side of that line was not purged30 of jellyish attributes; also that Anastasya’s flaccid and fundamental charms were formidable, although the line had been crossed by her. One thing was impressive, however. The loss of Anastasya did not worry him, except magnified through the legal acquisition of Bertha. What did he want? Well, he did not want Anastasya as much as he should. He was incorrigible31, he concluded. He regarded the Anastasya evening as a sort of personal defeat even. The call of duty was nevertheless very strong. He ought to love Anastasya; and his present intentions as regards his despicable fiancée were a disgraceful betrayal, etc. etc. The mutterings of reason continued.
That evening he met Anastasya. The moment he saw her he realized the abysses of indignity32 and poorness he was flinging himself into with Bertha Lunken. A sudden humbleness33 entered him and put him out of conceit34 with his judgment35, formed away from bright objects like Anastasya. The selfishness that caused his sentimentality when alone with Bertha was dissipated or not used in presence of more or less successful objects and people. None of his ego[312] was required by his new woman. She possessed36 plenty of her own. This, he realized later, was the cause of his lack of attachment37. He needed an empty vessel38 to flood with his vitality39, and not an equal and foreign vitality to exist side by side with coldly. He had taken into sex the procédés and selfish arrangements of life in general. He had humanized sex too much. He frequently admitted this, but with his defence lost sight of the flagrancy of the permanent fact.
He felt in Anastasya for the first time now an element of protection and safety. She was a touchwood and harbour from his perplexed40 interior life. She had a sort of ovation41 from him. All his obstinacy42 in favour of his fiancée had vanished. With Anastasya’s appearance an entirely43 different world was revealed that demanded completely new arguments.
They went to the same restaurant as the night before. He talked quietly, until they had drunk too much, and Bertha was not mentioned.
“And what of Bertha?” she asked finally.
“Never mind about Bertha.”
“Is she extinct?”
“No. She threatens an entirely new sort of eruption44.”
“Oh. In what way new??”
“It doesn’t matter. It won’t come our way.”
“Are you going there to-morrow?”
“I suppose I must. But I shall not make many more visits of?”
“What’s that?”
“I shall give up going, I say.” He shifted restlessly in his chair.
After breakfast next morning they parted, Tarr going back to work. Butcher, whom he had not seen for some days, came in. He agreed to go down into town and have lunch with him. Tarr put on a clean shirt. Talking to Butcher while he was changing, he stood behind his bedroom door. Men of ambitious physique, like himself, he had always noticed, were[313] inclined to puff45 themselves out or let their arms hang in a position favourable46 to their muscles while changing before another man. To avoid this embarrassment47 or absurdity, he made a point of never exhibiting himself unclothed.
His conversation with Butcher did not fall on matters in hand. As with Anastasya, he was unusually reticent48. He had turned over a new leaf. He became rather alarmed at this himself when he realized it. After lunch he left Butcher and went to the Mairie of the Quartier du Paradis and made inquiries49 about civil marriages. He did it like a sleep-walker.
He was particularly amiable50 with Bertha that day, and told her of his activities at the Mairie and made an appointment with her there for the next day.
Daily, then, he proceeded with his marriage arrangements in the afternoons, saw Bertha regularly, but without modifying the changed “correctness” of his attitude. The evenings he spent with Anastasya.
By the time the marriage preliminaries had been gone through, and Bertha and he could finally be united, his relations with Anastasya had become as close as formerly51 his friendship with Bertha had been. With the exception of the time from three in the afternoon to seven in the evening that he took off every day to see his fiancée, he was with her.
On September 29. three weeks after Bertha had told him that she was pregnant, he married her—in the time between three in the afternoon and seven in the evening set aside for her. Anastasya knew nothing about these things. Neither Bertha nor she were seeing their German women friends for the moment.
After the marriage at the Mairie Bertha and Tarr walked back to the Luxembourg Gardens and sat down. She had not during the three intervening weeks mentioned Anastasya. It was no time for[314] generosity52; she had done too much of that. Fr?ulein Vasek was the last person for whom she felt inclined to revive chivalry53. She let Tarr marry her out of pity, and never referred to his confidence about his other love.
They sat for some time without speaking, as though they had quarrelled. She said, then:
“I am afraid, Sorbert, I have been selfish?”
“You—selfish? How’s that? Don’t talk nonsense.” He had turned at once to her with a hurried fondness genuinely assumed.
She looked at him with her wistful, democratic face, full of effort and sentiment.
“You are very unhappy, Sorbert?”
He laughed convincingly.
“No, I’m all right. Don’t worry about me. I’m a little meditative54. That is only natural on such a solemn occasion. I was thinking, Bertha, we must set up house somewhere, and announce our marriage. We must do this for appearance’ sake. You will soon be incapacitated?”
“Oh, I shan’t be just yet.”
“In any case, we have gone through this form because?We must make this move efficacious. What are your ideas as to an establishment? Let us take a flat together somewhere round here. The Rue55 Servandoni is a nice street. Do you know it?”
“No.” She put her head on one side and puckered56 up her forehead.
“Near the Luxembourg Museum.”
They discussed a possible domicile.
He got up.
“It’s rather chilly57. Let’s get back.”
They walked for some time without speaking. So much unsaid had to be got rid of, without necessarily being said. Bertha did not know at all where she was. Their “establishment,” as discussed by Tarr, appeared very unreal, and also, what there was of it, disagreeable. She wondered what he was going to do with her.
“You remember what I said to you some weeks ago—about Anastasya Vasek. I am afraid there has been no change in that. You do not mind that?”
“No, Sorbert. You are perfectly58 free.”
“I am afraid I shall seem unkind. This is not a nice marriage for you. Perhaps I was wrong to suggest it?”
“How, wrong? I have not been complaining.”
They arrived at the iron gate.
“Well, I’d better not come up now. I will come along to-morrow—at the usual time.”
“Good-bye, Sorbert. A demain!”
“A demain!”
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
rim
|
|
| n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
vociferous
|
|
| adj.喧哗的，大叫大嚷的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
idiotic
|
|
| adj.白痴的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
faction
|
|
| n.宗派，小集团；派别；派系斗争 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
voluptuous
|
|
| adj.肉欲的，骄奢淫逸的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
fragrant
|
|
| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
buffeted
|
|
| 反复敲打( buffet的过去式和过去分词 )； 连续猛击； 打来打去； 推来搡去 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
watchful
|
|
| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
exultingly
|
|
| 兴高采烈地，得意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
bellowed
|
|
| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
wed
|
|
| v.娶，嫁，与…结婚 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
premier
|
|
| adj.首要的；n.总理，首相 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
corporate
|
|
| adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
wrench
|
|
| v.猛拧；挣脱；使扭伤；n.扳手；痛苦，难受 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
ornamented
|
|
| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
wail
|
|
| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
vice
|
|
| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
pretence
|
|
| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
absurdity
|
|
| n.荒谬，愚蠢；谬论 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
diffuse
|
|
| v.扩散；传播；adj.冗长的；四散的，弥漫的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
vehement
|
|
| adj.感情强烈的；热烈的；(人)有强烈感情的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
physically
|
|
| adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
opposition
|
|
| n.反对，敌对 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
diffuseness
|
|
| 漫射，扩散 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
gaped
|
|
| v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的过去式和过去分词 )；张开，张大 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
bard
|
|
| n.吟游诗人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
enumerated
|
|
| v.列举，枚举，数( enumerate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
permanently
|
|
| adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
purely
|
|
| adv.纯粹地，完全地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
purged
|
|
| 清除（政敌等）( purge的过去式和过去分词 )； 涤除（罪恶等）； 净化（心灵、风气等）； 消除（错事等）的不良影响 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
incorrigible
|
|
| adj.难以纠正的，屡教不改的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
indignity
|
|
| n.侮辱，伤害尊严，轻蔑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
humbleness
|
|
| n.谦卑，谦逊；恭顺 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
conceit
|
|
| n.自负，自高自大 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
judgment
|
|
| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
possessed
|
|
| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
attachment
|
|
| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
vessel
|
|
| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
vitality
|
|
| n.活力，生命力，效力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
perplexed
|
|
| adj.不知所措的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
ovation
|
|
| n.欢呼，热烈欢迎，热烈鼓掌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
obstinacy
|
|
| n.顽固；（病痛等）难治 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
eruption
|
|
| n.火山爆发；（战争等）爆发；（疾病等）发作 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
puff
|
|
| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
favourable
|
|
| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
embarrassment
|
|
| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
reticent
|
|
| adj.沉默寡言的；言不如意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
inquiries
|
|
| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
amiable
|
|
| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
formerly
|
|
| adv.从前，以前 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
generosity
|
|
| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
chivalry
|
|
| n.骑士气概，侠义；（男人）对女人彬彬有礼，献殷勤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
meditative
|
|
| adj.沉思的，冥想的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
rue
|
|
| n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
puckered
|
|
| v.（使某物）起褶子或皱纹( pucker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
chilly
|
|
| adj.凉快的，寒冷的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
perfectly
|
|
| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |